Flushing-box for closets.



No. 776.481; PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904. H. AIRD.

PLUSHING BOX FOR GLOSETS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1903.

K0 MODEL. R QKEETB-BHBBT 1.

PATENTBD DEC. 6, 1904.

H. AIR'D.

FLUSHING BOX FOR OLOSETS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT; 10, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

H0 MODEL.

.Fui lmii 1 FIB 7 FIE. X [WENTU WlTNEiiE'j Patented December 6, 1904.

FFICE.

HENRY AIRD, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

FLUSHlNG-BOX FOR CLOSETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 776,481; dated December 6, 1904.

Application filed September 10, 1903. Serial No. 172,550. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY Ami). a citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flushing-Boxes for Closets, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to such improvements; and it consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings and the reference characters marked thereon, which form a part of this specitication.

Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several figures.

Figure l of the drawings is a vertical longitudinal section of the improved flushing-box, showing some of the inclosed parts in section and some in elevation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a tube-supporting casting detached. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same, taken on the broken line 3 3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view in elevation of the box with a portion of one of the side walls broken away to illustrate a movement of some of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the casting which supports the upper ends of two of the tubes detached. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of valve-operating mechanism detached. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the piston-operating mechanism detached. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the casting shown in Fig. 2.

The box-body or tank 1 is adapted to contain water normally maintained at the level indicated by the dotted line 2 by means of the supply-pipe 3, controlled by avalve indicated by dotted lines land operated by lever 5, having the float 6, in the usual well-known manner. The outlet-valve 10 for discharging water from the tank to the closet-bowl (not shown) is also made in the usual well-known manner, having a bell-shaped head 12 and tubular stem 13, reciprocatory vertically upon the tube 14:, fixed at its lower end by a spider (indicated by dotted lines 15) to the bottom of the tank in the usual manner.

This invention relates more particularly to the mechanism interposed between the lever of a movable closet-seat and the outlet-valve for the purpose of automatically operating such valve by the seat movements.

As a movable closet-seat for automaticallyt operating the valve has been heretofore employed and is well known, 1 have not shown the seat in the drawings.

As heretofore practiced the seat is so arranged as to lift a weight when the user of the closet sits upon the seat, and when the user leaves the seat the weight resumes its normal position and in so doing actuates mechanism which operates the flushing-valvethat is, the outlet-valve.

The object of my invention is to increase the efiiciency and durability of the mechanism through which the weight acts upon the outlet-valve.

The seat-lever (shown in part only) is pivotally secured to the lower end of the stem 21, which is provided with a Weight 22 and supported by the casting 23, passed down through the floor of the box or tank and secured therein by the nut 24. The stem and weight are adapted to reciprocate vertically the stem in the casting and the weight in the inclosing tube 25, Which is screwed into an other casting or block, 26, which it supports and through which the upper end of the stem reciprocates. The upper end of the stem is provided with a laterally-projecting arm 30, which is clamped upon the stem by means of a bolt 31, passed through suitable apertures in the ends 32 and 33, Fig. 7. The casting 23 is provided in its upper part with a chamber 35, adapted to retain some of the water or other fluid employed in the box. The casting is also provided with two screw-threaded openings 36, adapted to receive the tubes 37 and 38, which are screwed therein, as shown. The tubes thus connect with each other through their supporting-casting 23 and form part of the water-retainer. The casting is provided with a small inlet-opening 39 to admit water from the tank and a check-valve 40 on the inside to prevent the retained water from escaping through the opening when subjected to pressure. The arm 30 has a depending piston-rod 4L2, extending into the upper end of the tube 37, provided with a piston 43 on its an extension thereof, is provided with a telescoping cap 45, which closes the upper end of the tube and is free to slide longitudinally of such tube. A downward movement of the piston will therefore cause a corresponding upward movement of the cap. The upper end of the cap is provided with means for connecting with and operating the outlet-valve,

as the bifurcated arm 46, secured to ears 47 on the cap by the bolt 48, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The forks 49 engage the flanges 50 on the tubular valve-stem of the valve and lift the same, as the piston descends, from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the water flows to the closetbowl until the float following the level of the water opens the supply-valve and sufficient water has escaped topermit the outlet-valve to close by gravity.

The pressure of the outflowing water is sufficient to maintain the outlet-valve open until the tank is sufficiently emptied to supply the required amount of water to the closetbowl, the bell-shaped head favoring such conditions and the telescoping cap 45 being formed to loosely lit upon the tube 38, so that a sufficient amount of the water confined in the tubes will escape to permit the cap to fall, with the outlet-valve stem, from the position shown in Fig. 4 to its normal position. (Shown in Fig. 1.) The tube 54 serves only to give the closet-bowl an additional supply of water after the outlet-valve is closed and while the tank is refilling, the water being forced by the pressure in the hood 55 through tube 54 into the tube 14, through which it is free to descend by gravity and run into the closetbowl below. The flange 56 on the upper end of tube 14 serves to prevent the supply-valve from opening too wide.

The upward movement of the piston and its actuating parts is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

I do not wish to be limited to any particular form or size of retainer employed to confine the fluid forming a part of the operating means connecting the outlet-valve and the verticallyreciprocatory lever and weight, which may be operated and controlled by the seat mechanism in any known manner; nor do I wish to be limited to the use of water, as other fluids may be substituted with equally good effect. It is also obvious that any well-known retracting-spring may be employed instead of the weight 22 to force the piston 43 downwardly in the tube 37.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a flushing-box for closets, the combination with an outlet-valve; of afluid-container; mechanism for applying pressure to the fluid therein; means for energizing said pressureapplying mechanism by action of the seat-lever; and means for automatically applying said pressure to open said valve when the seat is released.

2. In aflushing-box for closets, the combination with an outlet-valve; of a fluid-container located below the normal water-level and provided with an opening communicating with the main water-chamber; an inwardly-opening check-valve closing said opening; mechanism for applying either pressure or suction to the contents of said fluid-container; means for energizing said pressure and suction mechanism by action of the seat-lever; and means for automatically applying said pressure to open said outlet-valve when the seat is released.

3. In aflushing-box for closets, the combination with an outlet-valve; of means for loosely confining a portion of the water within the box at the same pressure as that in the main water-chamber; mechanism for applying pressure to the water so confined; means for energizing said pressure-applying mechanism by action of the seat-lever; and means for antomatically applying said pressure to open said valve when the seat is released.

4. In aflushing-box for closets, the combination with an outlet-valve; of a water-tilled tube; a piston reciprocatory in one end of the tube; connections between the piston and seatlever for operating the piston; a loose-fitting telescopic cap on the other end of the tube;

and connections between the cap and valve for operating the valve, substantially as described.

5. In a flushing-box for closets, the combination with an outletwalve; of a valved watertube located below the normal water-level; a piston reciprocatory in one end of the tube; a weight or spring and connections for actuating the piston in a direction to subject the water in the tube to pressure; a seat-lever and connections for actuating the weight or spring to move the piston in a direction to reduce the water-pressure in the tube; a telescopic cap on the other end of the tube; and connections between the cap and valve for operating the valve, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of September, 1903.

HENRY AIRD.

Witnesses:

S. C. Boo'rn, Geo. V. ROGERS. 

